March 06, 2014

Check one, two. Is anyone still here? I have had the craziest couple of months. It feels like I have been away more than I have been home. I miss this blog and hearing from my friends. I thinks it's time to reconnect. Not even sure where to start. Grab a drink, get comfie and let's chat.

Lots has been going on since my last post way back in December. The holidays came and went. The Boutin's had a great time gift giving, spending time with the family and eating, of course.

Love these nutballs!! Glad to get to spend lots of quality time with them!! Before I new it CHA Winter work was upon me!! I created samples for Simple Stories, Tim Holtz Idea-ology, Queen & Co and Basic Grey. Busy, busy!

With February came the Scrapping Turtle's Cruise. Let me tell you...this is an amazing getaway!!! I have the best time teaching on these cruises. Got to spend time with a great group of ladies (and some guys, too!), great weather, amazing ports, Royal Caribbean Rocks...just a great time!

This one left from New Orleans (now one of my FAVOURITE cities!!!!)

mmmm...beignets!

After a whirlwind stay in New Orleans we set sail...

Jamaica, mon.

Grand Cayman...this is Hannah in her element!!

Cozumel..awesome..again.

This is us at sea...Thanks for the photo Bertha!

This is one of the projects we made.

It was a great time! I will share more photos and info soon. We are working on next years dates. Don't miss out. This really is a great experience!!! I would love to see lots of familiar faces on the 2015 Scrapping Turtle Cruise!!!!

Only a few days after arriving home from the cruise we were off to a hockey exchange in Philidelphia. The Merriton Bulldogs and Wissihickon Hockey Club have been doing this hockey exchange for over 50 years!!! Riley billeted with a great family and it was a once in a lifetime experience..

and...

they won!!!! So proud of these boys!!!

Thanks to a great group of coaches!! These guys put a ton of their time and hearts into providing our boys with an amazing team experience!

Once we arrived home from Philly, Ri and I packed up and left a day later for Camp Wanakita with the Grade 7 and Grade 8 kids from Power Glen school! Four days of skiing, snow shoeing and team building! So glad I had the chance to experience this with Ri.

Then I came home with a doozy of the flu. The one with the sore throat, earache, bronchitis and headache. Spent the four days in bed. Finally felt human again before heading off to...

Fun filled workshops, catching up with sweet friends, fabulous food and lots of productivity!!! It was a great event!!! I love these Crop & Create weekends!!! Have you attended one yet?? You still have time this year. We will be heading to...

We are going to have a ton of fun!!!! I hope to see lots of familiar faces on March 21st-22nd!!! Are you planning on attending??

So you see...it has been a little busy around here. On top of all that travel is day to day family life, assignments due and prep work. I must admit that it feels really good to get this posted. I miss keeping in touch with a lot of you and this blog is a great way to do that. I plan on posting once a week moving forward. Think that's doable. Fingers and toes crossed!!!

Don't forget about this one, too....

PUERTO RICO!!!!!! Oh man I love this event!! The people are truly amazing in PR. Great store. Crazy and beautiful store owner. Awesome team. And heck...it's in Puerto Rico! Are you going to come and play?? Here is a link to all of the details...Puerto Rico Scrapbook Event. It is June 6th -8th!!! Hope to see you there!!!

OK! Now a giveaway!!! How about a Vicki's Favourite Things goodie bag!!! I will fill it with a bunch of the things I love!!! Just comment on this post. I will draw a name on Wednesday March 12th.

Thanks for sticking with me! Can't wait to hear from you!!!! See you in a few days!!!

November 13, 2013

What a beautiful day!! The sun is shining. The kids were happy this morning and are off to school. And I am blogging! Good way to start the day. I wanted to get this post doe before I take off for Zumba!

I have a dear friend named Erin Yamabe. I don't only love her sweet face but I also think her mom is pretty awesome too! Erin asked me a loooong time ago to create something using a sampling of awesome goodies from Ruby Rock-It and I finally got some time together to do it!

The Amy Tangerine Yes, Please stickers are vellum-ish so thaey give a totally "bokeh" (the dots you see in the background of an out of focus photo) look. LOVE IT!!!

Love this palette, love this challenge, LOVE Summer for asking me to play along. Hope you find as much inspiration as I did and I can't wait to see what you create!!!

Giveaway chatter...I have a few to discuss. First...

A DecoArts GIVEAWAY...This one is US only friends. They offered this little goodie pack (Gesso, Deco-Page, stencils and paint) as a giveaway today!!! Please leave a comment if you live in the US and I will draw a name for these fabulous items on Monday March 18th.

My friends at Bo Bunny are giving a copy of my book away!!! Go check it out HERE. Might take a bit for the post so keep checking if it isn't up yet.

December 01, 2012

Well my friends I missed posting a winner of the stamps yesterday. I went to see Breaking Dawn and then stayed up til three editing photos and writing instructions for some awesomeness going on at Pink Paislee...but I will share more of that in just a sec. So here is the stamp and sweet treat winner...

Congrats, Lea!!! And thanks for all of the posts! Glad you liked the tags and hope you are inspired to repurpose your scraps!!!

I am throwing this sweet treat in with the stamps...

It is the new Cadbury Dairy Milk Salty Caramelized Peanut choclate bar and it is the best EVER!!!!!

Before I head off to put up my tree I want to share this Pink Paislee awesomeness with you!!!

I shared it yesterday but I didn't know they were giving away a Fuji Instax 25s camera and a bunch of other goodies!!!! Go "LIKE" it on Facebook HERE and check out the blog for a FREE Digital download HERE. Just awesome!!!! And the countdown has begun...look at Steph Devlin's lovely page HERE.

August 23, 2012

Hey friends! Hope you are having a fabulous week! I know for some of you this is back to school week. Hope you got through that unscathed. We have a week and a bit before the kids go back. I am looking forward to it, but a little sad too.

I have been busy working on classes. LOTS of classes! September is going to be a crazy month! Here is a list...

First, I will be teaching at CKU in San Jose for Simple Stories. It is a full day album class with their Year-o-logy line. Take a look at the sneak peak...

Did you see this deal from CKU??? You and a few of your friends could come and play...

Here is some more CKU info...

Event dates:

San Jose, CA – September 6-8, 2012

Dallas - Fort Worth, TX – October 11-13, 2012

Stamford CT- November 1-3, 2012

Cost is $295 (does not include hotel room or food) and includes an album track, four 90 minute classes, evening activities, goodies, prizes, and more.

Next, I will be off to Nevada for Inspiration Unlimited! Can't wait for that! Flying in to Utah to meet my friend Layle and then driving to the event.

If you are coming to IU, you can pre-order my book now!!!

Later in September is Crop & Create Ottawa!!! Those are always guaranteed good times! Can't wait to see lots of familiar faces.

Can't Forget Scrapfest Oshawa in October!!! The Portfolio album class is already sold out with a waiting list. There are spaces in my EDE class on Friday. This will be a fun fall themed Simple Stories class FULL of product!!! Go HERE to Register.

You know what I love? Heidi Swapp's product lines! Seriously...LOVE everything she does! And I really like her, too. So when they asked if I could whip something up for a guest post on Heidi's site I said ...heck, yes!!! Here is what I made, quick like...

A little vacation Flip book!!!

You can see the whole thing over on Heidi's blog HERE! Tell her I said "hi"!!! Can't wait to get some of her new CHA-Summer releases, look HERE!! What is your FAV?? One of mine is the Color Magic...oh and the chipboard Memory Files...oh and the new stickers and Color Magic notes...you get my point...LOVE her stuff!!!!

Now for a give away...actually 3 giveaways...of the same prize.

I love Sassafras. They closed their doors this year. Sad. But Tim and Becc are still designing...I see their stuff and know it right away. I decided I wanted to share my love and put together 3 Sassafrass Loving Prize Packs!!! Felt, stamps, blossoms and more!! I think these are great add ons for mini books, journals, Smash book and that kind of jazz. Cards, too. But heck, they will work on layouts as well! It is a nice little goodie pack!!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. I will draw 3 names on Monday, August 27th.

March 28, 2012

Wow, my friends!!! Thanks for all of the posts and kind words regarding my new stamps with Stamping Bella! It was wonderful to first have Emily's support when I approached her about making the stamps and then to get such an awesome response here when I posted them...it was good. Thanks!

If you are interested in buying any of my Creative Foundations stamps you can order them through Stamping Bella HERE. They have tons of great stamps and stamping accessories. Check it out!

is now available and it will knock your socks off!!! Look at that cover and the inside is good too! Great ideas to get you in the mood for spring. I had a chance to flip through it in Winnipeg and I kept telling Catherine and Becky what a great job they did! Check it out online HERE.

Then Catherine handed me the new CardMaps 2 and I fell in LOVE!!! I knew the sketches would be great, Becky is just cool like that but then the cards everyone created blew me away!!! This is a must have card book. Sketches, techniques, tons of great projects. Just. Plain. Good.

So I mentioned I was in Winnipeg for the latest Crop & Create. It was a blast!!! I met so many GREAT ladies and saw a few old friends. The Delta was a suberb hotel with the most courteous and helpful staff! The food was yummy and the classes went smoothly. I also have to say that the stores that attended really brought their A game and it was a bustling marketplace! Thanks Winnipeg for another great event!!! And thanks to Nicole for helping to TA my classes. You were such a help!!!

Here are a few photos. I didn't get as many as usual this time around...

Kimber and Catherine

Leica

Catherine

Beth and Leica

Vicki and Beth

and just Beth.

It was such FUN and now on to Moncton!!!! Get ready ladies, 'cause here we come!!!!!

Now...last but not least!!!! The stamp winners!!!!

I LOVE your stamps!!! The banner one reminds me of your style so much! obviously right??...you designed it, so it reminds me of your classes!! I love everything about stamping, especially adding to my hoarding-like amount of stamps!!

Congrats Vicki Love all of your stamp designs. Another accomplishment under your belt. I like the versatility of stamping. THousands of choices of images, different stamping medias,and the fun of seeing your finished project never loses it's appeal.Thanks a million for this opportunity and your website URL that I now have bookmarked.Have a great day.

March 20, 2012

Sorry I missed Monday. The flu came for a visit and I didn't leave my bed. Better today and ready to get the week started!

We had a busy week and weekend. March Break, a hockey tournament and 2 birthdays!!! And I have the photos to prove it! :)

Riley, my St Patrick's Day boy!! Happy 11th Birthday!!!

I stayed up until 1 am making cupcakes! Thanks Pinterest for this idea!

Squeeze one of the little girl in here, too.

Happy 8th Birthday to my nephew Reed!!!!

The Warriors won the tournament!!!! They were the under dogs and they came out on top! So proud of these kids!!!!!

Had to share this sweet photo of my nephew, Noah. We had fun with some bubbles!!!

It was a great 7 days! And the weather we are having is outstanding! The kids had shorts on yesterday! Love it. We will have to enjoy it while it lasts. Not sure Winnipeg is going to be quite this warm in two days!!!

I am excited to be a part of Kelly Purkey and Studio Calico's Sketchbook 4 online workshop! What a great concept and I get to give away a spot in the class to one of my lucky blog readers!!! Here are the details...

Join Kelly Purkey in another installment of her popular Sketchbook class! Sketchbook 4 is a four week class filled with fresh sketches, easy instructions, beautiful examples, and lots of fun. This class is designed to be used at any time and over + over again when you need inspiration.

Sketchbook is different from any other sketch class out there because Kelly and the contributors offer design tips and detailed explanation of what makes a page work. It's more than sketches - they’ll deliver valuable pointers for creating great layouts.

By the end of the class, you'll have a complete sketchbook of 12 original sketches, 38 layouts, and an ADDITIONAL 38 sketches based on those creative pages. All the examples are brand new layouts, exclusive to this class... you won't see them anywhere else! You will be receiving an example layout from Kelly for each of the sketches, along with two example layouts from a Studio Calico Design Team member and some of your favorite SC Guest Designers.

So you know the deal, leave a comment on this post and I will draw a name on Monday March, 26th for a class spot in Sketchbook 4!!! It is going to be so much fun!!!!

March 12, 2012

Happy Monday!!! I've got a great way to start the week. How about another blog hop!?!? This one highlights Creative Foundations!!!

And a bunch of the wonderful and talented ladies who contributed their artwork and all around craftiness to a section in the book called "A Little Help From My Friends"

You need to go on a little cyber journey and collect the word featured at each blog. Put the words together to make the phrase and post it here for a chance to win one of four copies of Creative Foundations!!!!

Make sure to leave the ladies some love...they worked hard to help make this book a success and they have some special stuff to share today, too!!!

The oh so talented Greta Hammond is a not a blogger but I still needed to share her lovely work. She made this card....

Here is a closer look....

Just gorgeous!!! And here are a few words from Greta...

“I made a quick little card using a few of the techniques in Vicki’s book. For my cardstock flowers, I used flowers in the paper craft kit from LYB. These turned out so fun with Vicki’s technique of misting and shaping them. I also used a strip of power tape to the top of the card and then added red glitter for a very easy border. Finally, I jazzed up my little red chipboard heart with some tissue paper. Just a fun little way to give it some texture. These techniques were all so easy to do but add just a bit of “ooph” to my project!"

Take a peek at what I made using techniques from my book:

I used over 5 techniques from my book to alter this monogram and some of the new Dylusian Ink Sprays from Ranger (love them)!! It is only partially finished...more to come!!

You can get a copy of Creative Foundations by following the link on the Amazon button up in the right corner or you can follow this link....HERE.

Have fun!!! See you back here at the end of your creative journey!!! I will be drawing 4 names on Wednesday, March 14th!!!! Giveaway is closed. Thanks!!!!!!!

PS- check out these bonus pages from the book HERE...if you still needed more convincing!!!

She is a fabulous lady. A great artist and an amazing writer! I am always envious of people who have a way with "words" and this girl does. She is so good in fact that she has penned this book...

And I took the journey to Sweethaven and made it back in a day!! I read it in a day! I have to say, I was worried when I started it. What if I didn't like it? I didn't want to hurt my Courtney's feelings. But no worries...I couldn't put it down and finished it... in. a. day! I felt so good when I put the book (actually, my kindle) down. Great story about 4 girls who record their memories in a scrapbook while spending their summers in a small beach town. I loved the characters, loved the visual imagery Courtney conjured and I LOVED the Scrapbooking element!! Guess what? Now I want to go to Summerhaven with the girls and scrapbook!!! And drink vanilla lattes with whipped cream!

Go Here to read more clever words about the book and BUY it...go HERE to spend some time with clever Courtney. It is worth the read!!! Loved it.L-O-V-E-D it! So stinkin' proud of her.

Oh...and we are giving a signed copy away! How about that! And...I am sweetening the deal with a scrapbooking/stamping prize pack!!! A paper pack, embellies and a set of stamps. Yep, it's a good one! Leave a comment.

PRIZE AWARDED!!! GIVEAWAY CLOSED!! Congrats Dorina!!!

As part of the celebration of Courtney's first novel launch she asked me to...scrapbook, of course! Here is what I made as inspired by the book. A page with a scrapbooking theme!! (make sure to check out Jaime Warren, too! She will also have a project on Courtney's blog...I love Jaime's stuff, "sigh")

I am my family's Memory Keeper. I jot it down, take photos and make it pretty.

The majority of product on this page arrived at my doorstep! It was a sweet surprise from Ruby Rock-it and Bella!!! I am in love!! Great paper, foil embossed stickers and chipboard embellishments. Oh! And don't forget the bling from Bella!!! Thanks a million, Ruby Rocket-it and Bella! I love discovering new product to collect, hoard and make stuff with. Go check them out HERE. Looks like they have something to annouce today.

AND DON'T FORGET THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TODAY..

This is exciting!!! I LOVED Heid's release at the Winter show. I will SERIOUSLY be making stuff just for FUN with the Memory Files. Watch for it! You WANT this stuff. I have been around for a while...and this stuff makes me WANT to create! Way to go Heidi, my friend! She came back swinging!!!

I LOVE this picture. I am amazed that I took it. My friends...it is all guess work when I take pictures. I have the ideas in my head, but very little technical knowledge. Others may think it's just ok and I'm alright with that. I love it. Very little editing...just happened to take it on the front porch. She was on the porch and I was on the sidewalk. Funny story...I took it yesterday. Mad Dev get her boots on and run outside in the rain because I thought I was going to screw up and miss my March 1st photo!!! Well...it was February 29th yesterday. Duh! Did any of you play along?? I want to see!

Some exciting news!!!! See this...

You might not have recognized me from the picture but I am "Special Guest"!!! Isn't that exciting!!! I am so thrilled to be teaching along side these talented ladies!!! Puerto Rico, here ! come!! Are you ready for me!?!?! More details in the coming weeks!! Check it out HERE.

Ok friends...I have finally run out of breath..let's recap..

Courtney and SummerHaven...check it out! And she has BIG giveaways coming...maybe even another chance to win my book...just sayin'.

Ruby Rock-it and Bella! Worth taking a peek!

Heidi Swapp...fabulous as ever...lots of giveaways and other stuff starting today at 11 EST.

Puerto Rico...will you be there??

Don't forget to comment on yesterdays post. You could win my book!!!

Leave a post here for the chance to win a signed copy of Sweethaven and a WONDERFUL scrap pack!!!

February 29, 2012

It is finally done!!! This blog has needed an overhaul for such a long time and with the help of my friend Jen Walker it has finally happened!!! (Thanks, Jen!!!! You are the best. Really.) What do you think?? I LOVE it!!!! Make sure to take a look around. Here is a verbal tour...

Look at the banner under the blog header...I will be filling these pages with lots of content. A few free class PDF's are coming. I am thinking of adding class downloads for a small fee for my current classes, then you play along even if you can't make it to a workshop.

Videos will be coming!!

There is a button to buy my book over there in the top right corner.

Now you can connect to my facebook, twitter, pinterest...(deep breath)...instagram and LIKE my facebook page. I would LOVE if you LIKED me...I love friends. Look over there on the right. See it?? I even made the Instagram button. yeah...I am getting all "techie".

There are lots of things to check out. Let me know what you think. Jen is in the process of adding something like Networked Blogs so you can follow along a little easier. Because...are you ready for it...I will be posting on a regular basis. Can ya dig it? Lots of crafting stuff...photos...inspiration sources...lots of fun stuff. Let me know what you would like to see. Let me know if you have question...I will fill up the FAQ area with tons of tidbits.

She found it HERE. Wanna play along?? I figure this is something I can commit to and actually do it. I also want a reason to take photos everyday! I need something to instagram, tweet, facebook, pinterest and post, after all. Phew! and ha!! So check back later for my interpretation of "UP". Should be fun!!!

Next...

Check back tomorrow for something I am cooking up with Courtney Walsh. (it's good...really good) I always knew she was a talented lady...love her ART...have known her for years...been on DT's together...sweet lady...and now an author of something oh so special!!!! I know!!! I have lots to say about that tomorrow!!! You have to go check out her blog today...HERE and the Brave Girls site...HERE. Lot of GIVEAWAYS over there!!!! Fabulous. Truly.

Now...how about a GIVEAWAY!?!?!? It is a good one. And I always save the "candy" for the end of the post. To celebrate my new blog and my leap into the social media world and just the plain old good feelings that come with giving stuff away...

A copy of my book, CREATIVE FOUNDATIONS !!!! One copy, signed if you want, will be going to a lucky comment leaver!!!!!!! Like my facebook page for more chances to win!!!!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!!! Congrats, JILL!!!!!

So get to it...post, pin, Like, tweet, and stay connected with me. I love the contact. I love to interact and I have so much I want to share and would like you to share with me.

And wait 'til you see what's coming. It will be sooooo goooood. Can't wait!